How Educators Can Take Advantage of Federal Educational Funds

 

Where do the educational relief funds provided by the U.S. government come from, and how can educators take advantage? Angela Arnold, General Manager of OverDrive Education, shared her thoughts.

“It surprised me to learn that many of the teachers, librarians and even some administrators we worked with have low information about U.S. government relief funds. They’re just not dialed in yet as to where this money comes from and how they should lobby for their students’ share of it.

We partner with more than 46,000 schools in the U.S. and abroad to deliver a digital reading platform that ensures every student has access to the right books.

According to the most recent Simba Information report, the instructional materials publishing industry for the Pre-K to 12 market generated just under 9 billion dollars in 2019. That includes textbooks, courseware, tests, and trade books for required reading like Bud, Not Buddy, The Iliad, Hidden Figures or Joy Luck Club. Now, consider that the American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March of 2021 allocates 123 billion dollars for K-12 funding. This is on top of the 13 billion dollar CARES act funding passed in March of 2020 and the 54 billion dollar COVID relief package passed in December of 2020. Keeping in mind that higher ed and others have different set asides, by my math, that adds up to about $190 billion dollars in relief aid just for K-12. 190 billion dollars. So, all instructional materials spend was 10 billion a year. Now, here comes 190 billion dollars into this market.

Congress designed the money to flow top down from state educational agencies to local school districts, who must apply to receive those funds. Each state has its own process.

So, one of the consequences we’re hearing is that there’s an information gap between top agencies and those who work with students in classrooms and buildings. It’s hard for anybody to navigate the acronym soup into which terms like ESSER, ESF, CARES, and ARP all mix, but the result is that educators in the classroom, and school librarians, are low on the details about how much their school is getting and how the money will be spent. This gap will close over time.

Why? Because we know all great educators work in the best service of kids and they want to take the right risks with public dollars. Everyone from the top down is looking to maximize the use of this once in a lifetime windfall and make good decisions for the long term. They’re doing that now, even as available data is still catching up.

In the next months, I’m sure we’ll see better processes and tools for school staff at every level to share information and collaborate on worthy projects that, according to the legislation, quote, respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups, unquote. It’s coming, and when this money arrives, it will make a transformational impact, especially in the poorest schools.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Coupa Inspire 2025
A Global Conversation: Coupa Inspire 2025 Brings Innovation to Your Doorstep
September 12, 2025

Coupa Inspire 2025 is taking its flagship experience on the road with the Inspire World Tour, bringing the spirit of its celebrated event to five cities across four continents. By condensing the energy of its global gathering into free, one-day sessions, Coupa is expanding access to knowledge, innovation, and community-building opportunities for finance, procurement, and…

Read More
Royal Dublin
Mastering the Game: Akshay Bhatia and Coupa Inspire at the Royal Dublin
September 12, 2025

At the Royal Dublin, Coupa brought together community and competition with PGA pro and brand ambassador Akshay Bhatia, who shared lessons from the course that extend far beyond golf. His message, “Master your swing. Master your spend,” underscored the power of precision, discipline, and strategy in both sport and business. The event was not just…

Read More
Coupa Customer Appreciation Day with Akshay Bhatia at The Royal Dublin
September 11, 2025

Coupa’s Customer Appreciation Day at The Royal Dublin on July, 2025, brought together PGA Tour talent Akshay Bhatia and the community for a celebration of both sport and connection. Beyond the excitement of world-class golf, Bhatia shared practical “tour-level tips” in a relaxed clinic format, offering guidance on everything from escaping rough lies to mastering…

Read More
The Royal Dublin
Coupa Spotlight: Akshay Bhatia Tees Up Teaching at The Royal Dublin
September 11, 2025

American golfer Akshay Bhatia’s teaching session at The Royal Dublin this July marks more than a summer stop—it’s a sign of how golf’s rising stars are shaping the global game. For Coupa, the event highlights the intersection of tradition and modern growth, bringing fresh attention to one of Ireland’s most historic courses. Bhatia’s presence underscores…

Read More